I admit it. I watched the Republican presidential debate last week. It was kind of a guilty pleasure, like tuning in to Real Housewives of Someplace or Other or eating Cheetos. I knew there wouldn't be any real nourishment there, but it was fun. The Republicans are to serious debate of serious issues what Hostess Ho Hos are to nutrition.
But, God, these people are entertaining as long as you don't allow yourself the fantasy that one of them could actually end up being president of the United States.
There was nutty Ron Paul arguing that a 30-year-old man who had the poor judgment of not buying health insurance should pay for it with his life ... and the crowd shouting out in agreement.
There was Michele Bachmann's laugh, which is as maniacal as her ideas.
There was Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney all trying to top one another in terms of how many jobs they created as governors. But wait a minute. All of these very same guys said at other times during the debate that government didn't create any jobs at all. That it was the private sector alone that did that. So, how did they create all those jobs as head of a government? I'm confused.
While it was all pretty embarrassing, the most embarrassed organization should be CNN. They lent credibility to the truly crazy Tea Party Express by co-hosting the event with them. Okay. Let's see CNN partner with the ACLU or NARAL or the Green Party to host a debate. Those organizations are much more in the mainstream of American politics than the tea party, and I don't think their members would cheer for the death of an unlucky young man.
